Romney's Letter to the Log Cabin Republicans...

Back in 1994, Mitt Romney was running for Senator in Massachusetts. His opponent was Ted Kennedy a Democrat. Romney wrote a letter to a group called the Log Cabin Republicans, which is a group of conservative Republican gay voters. In this letter, he asked for the group's official endorsement. The text of his letter shows a position quite different from where he stands now on the issue of gay rights.

The full text of the letter: (Boldface mine...)


October 6, 1994


To the Members of the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts:


I am writing to thank the Log Cabin Club of Massachusetts for the advice and support you have given to me during my campaign for the U.S. Senate and to seek the Club’s formal endorsement of my election. The Log Cabin Club has played a vital role in reinvigorating the Republican Party in Massachusetts and your endorsement is important to me because it will provide further confirmation that my campaign and approach to government is consistent with the values and vision of government we share.


I am pleased to have had an opportunity to talk with you and to meet many of you personally during your September meeting. I learned a great deal from those discussions and the many thoughtful questions you posed. As a result of our discussions and other interactions with gay and lesbian voters across the state, I am more convinced than ever before that as we seek to establish full equality for Americas gay and lesbian citizens, I will provide more effective leadership than my opponent.


I am not unaware of my opponent’s considerable record in the area of civil rights, or the commitment of Massachusetts voters to the principle of equality for all Americans. For some voters it might be enough for me to simply match my opponent’s record in this area. But I believe we can and must do better. If we are to achieve the goals we share, we must make equality for gays and lesbians a mainstream concern. My opponent cannot do this. I can and will.


We have discussed a number of important issues such as the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which I have agreed to co-sponsor, and if possible broaden to include housing and credit, and the bill to create a federal panel to find ways to reduce gay and lesbian youth suicide, which I also support. One issue I want to clarify concerns President Clinton’s “don’t ask, don’t tell, don’t pursue” military policy. I believe that the Clinton compromise was a step in the right direction. I am also convinced that it is the first of a number of steps that will ultimately lead to gays and lesbians being able to serve openly and honestly in our nation’s military. That goal will only be reached when preventing discrimination against gays and lesbians is a mainstream concern, which is a goal we share.


As we begin the final phase of this campaign, I need your support more than ever. By working together, we will achieve the goals we share for Massachusetts and our Nation.


Sincerely,
W. Mitt Romney


Well...

He closed his letter "Sincerely", so I'll take him at his word that he meant what he wrote about securing equal rights for gays and lesbians.

That was then, this is now. Who needs the log cabin republicans, since they're never going to vote for Obama anyway? Romney's stance on equal rights just doesn't seem to have the same ring it used to, does it?

"I have the same view on marriage that I had when I was governor and I've stated many times," Romney said. "I believe marriage is a relationship between a man and a woman."


I'm sure he's sincere about this, too...




Sources:

http://www.boston.com/news/daily/11/romneyletterbaywindows.pdf

http://thehill.com/video/campaign/226485-romney-reiterates-opposition-to-gay-marrage-says-obama-changed-position